Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of taking instructions from the highest bidders while handling petitions from his palace.
The Oba spoke on Monday when he welcomed Effa Okim, the zonal director of EFCC in Benin.
The monarch told Okim that he was not happy about certain things that happened during previous administrations at the zonal office.
The Oba said the EFCC treated his petition on fraud allegedly committed by some former palace officials with kid gloves.
The monarch said despite overwhelming evidence against the former palace officials, they were set free by the anti-graft agency.
The monarch said since the incident, it has become difficult for the palace to support the activities of the agency.
“No matter how you try to support EFCC from the palace, when it is time to assist them, they listen to other parties,” the monarch said.
“What I have been told is that they take instructions from the highest bidder.
“I was not happy with certain things that happened in the time of your predecessors.
“How can EFCC operatives, especially the lady who handled the case I cited earlier, behave like that?
“If I was asked to comment on her performance, I would score her zero. I do not know if she was doing an EFCC job or just dancing to the tunes of people who were giving her money.”
When TheCable reached out to the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s head of media and publicity, said he would get back to the reporter.
He was yet to revert as of the time of filing this report.
